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Dec 6, 2012
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how do we know that bashar al assad isn't doing the same thing right now? how do we know that the intelligence that the u.s., the international community is getting is really accurate that there are wmd stockpiles, weapons of mass destruction, sarin gas, mustard gas, in syrian? >> wolf, the key thing right now is that if assad is putting up a front, we're not going to know that unless we have good solid human intelligence on the ground. and that begins with interrogations of the key personnel that are involved, the scientists, research and development community, the military leaders, the commanders, that as fran indicated would give the directives to pull the triggers. those guys have to be rounded up. and you have to conduct interrogations. that's very tough. that's kind of basic intelligence work. and it doesn't start until you get on the ground and you start interrogating those guys. >> there's always concern. i remember there was a guy named curve ball providing the u.s. information supposedly about saddam hussein's wmd. >> it was one source. >> but he
how do we know that bashar al assad isn't doing the same thing right now? how do we know that the intelligence that the u.s., the international community is getting is really accurate that there are wmd stockpiles, weapons of mass destruction, sarin gas, mustard gas, in syrian? >> wolf, the key thing right now is that if assad is putting up a front, we're not going to know that unless we have good solid human intelligence on the ground. and that begins with interrogations of the key...
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plus, is al assad planning his escape. and encouragement from democrats that want hillary to run for president in 2016. i'm wolf blitzer, you're in "the situation room." >>> we begin this hour with the fiscal cliff. it's only a phone call, but it's the most notable movement we have seen. the tax hikes take effect in only 27 days. our senior congressional kor respondespo -- >> today, president obama and john boehner spoke by phone about the fiscal cliff negotiations, but there is no progress. they still have a stand off over the rates. the president still wants to raise rates on the top 2% of americans. the speaker is not moving on that position. this comes on the same day that secretary geithner made it clear in language they have not used before, just how far they're willing to go in the administration to stand by those terms. >> is the administration prepared today go over the fiscal cliff? >> absolutely. there is no agreement without those rates going up on the top 2%. and they all get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of
plus, is al assad planning his escape. and encouragement from democrats that want hillary to run for president in 2016. i'm wolf blitzer, you're in "the situation room." >>> we begin this hour with the fiscal cliff. it's only a phone call, but it's the most notable movement we have seen. the tax hikes take effect in only 27 days. our senior congressional kor respondespo -- >> today, president obama and john boehner spoke by phone about the fiscal cliff negotiations, but...
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Dec 8, 2012
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on top of all of this now, there must be deep fear that the assad regime might use chemical warfare against its own people, serin gas, which is so deadly. how concerned? how fearful are the rebels, the civilian population, in northern syria where you are. >> reporter: as fearful as one could possibly manage them to be. this is a population that has no way to protect itself from bullets and bombs. one rebel commander we were talking to has no doubt in his mind that he would, in fact, use this type of weapon ri. he said if you look at the history of this uprising, the asad regime moved onto rockets and then onto air strikes. the next step, as this rebel force is really strengthening its strangle hold on this syrian government is going to be to employ chemical weapons to deliver that final and deadly blow. >> in northern syria for us on the scene, aura, be careful. thanks so much. here in washington, a massive show of force on capital hill. up next, the message some senior citizens are sending lawmakers looming the fiscal cliff. stay with us. you're in "the situation room." ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male
on top of all of this now, there must be deep fear that the assad regime might use chemical warfare against its own people, serin gas, which is so deadly. how concerned? how fearful are the rebels, the civilian population, in northern syria where you are. >> reporter: as fearful as one could possibly manage them to be. this is a population that has no way to protect itself from bullets and bombs. one rebel commander we were talking to has no doubt in his mind that he would, in fact, use...
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Dec 10, 2012
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to try to be sure they have some kind of voice in the post-assad world. many think inevitabfvitableably president assad will fall. >> what deeply concerns u.s. officials is a group like the al nusri group getting their hands on some of those chemical weapons stockpiles in syria. >>> our senior international correspondent arwa damon is on the ground inside syria. she has more on the al nusri front. the group declared a terrorist organization by the obama administration. >> reporter: they're incredibly secretive. it's very difficult to actually get access to their leadership. we have been trying that. when you speak with the other fighting units, they have enormous respect for the al nusri front's capabilities because their fighters are deemed to be the most professional, the most dedicated. they're often on the deadliest and most dangerous front lines. even amongst ordinary activists who most certainly do not support al nusri's ideology, that same level of respect is echoed with people believing that, were it not for the presence of the al nusri front, the
to try to be sure they have some kind of voice in the post-assad world. many think inevitabfvitableably president assad will fall. >> what deeply concerns u.s. officials is a group like the al nusri group getting their hands on some of those chemical weapons stockpiles in syria. >>> our senior international correspondent arwa damon is on the ground inside syria. she has more on the al nusri front. the group declared a terrorist organization by the obama administration. >>...
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Dec 12, 2012
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troops loyal to bashar al assad reach into their arsenal for more deadly weapons. even scud missile. officials say assad has between 3 and 400 of those short and medium-range missiles in his stockpile. the regime forces launched a scud from the suburbs of damascus. >> if this proves to be true, it's another indication of the deparagraph tea of assad and his crohn knees. >> once more, the forces last week started using what's called barrel bombs. >> it contains flammable materials. it's sort of a napalm and it's very, very concerning and indicative of the regime's brutality. >> human rights groups say it causes extremely painful burns, often down to the bone, burns that are often hard to treat. this comes after signs that an increasingly desperate assad is moving closer to using chemical weapons. chemical weapons plus scud missiles would be a lethal combination. >> if you were to marry up a chem kabl warhead on to the scud, you now have an area denial weapon system which is very nasty. it affects everybody. it doesn't discriminate from friend or foe. >> one means of
troops loyal to bashar al assad reach into their arsenal for more deadly weapons. even scud missile. officials say assad has between 3 and 400 of those short and medium-range missiles in his stockpile. the regime forces launched a scud from the suburbs of damascus. >> if this proves to be true, it's another indication of the deparagraph tea of assad and his crohn knees. >> once more, the forces last week started using what's called barrel bombs. >> it contains flammable...
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Dec 7, 2012
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updated plans if president assad uses chemical weapons. are the syrians, folks you talk to in northern syria, civilians, the rebels, are they ready for some sort of potential chemical strike? >> reporter: no, put quite simply, they are not. there's nothing that the population can do to defend itself. this is a population that has struggled at best to even try to defend itself against the bullets, artillery, bombs. when it comes to a chemical weapon, there's nothing that they can do. that is why this is such a terrifying possibility. people are aware the u.s. called it a red line, but that has been met with quite a fair amount of cynicism because they say that the u.s. has issued a red line warning in the past and they haven't felt repercussions from that. people are frustrated, angry, terrified at america's position when it comes to the syrian uprising. they feel as if the u.s. abandoned them to their fate. many of them are asking the question why is the u.s. saying chemical weapons are a red line. what about the 40,000 plus that have died
updated plans if president assad uses chemical weapons. are the syrians, folks you talk to in northern syria, civilians, the rebels, are they ready for some sort of potential chemical strike? >> reporter: no, put quite simply, they are not. there's nothing that the population can do to defend itself. this is a population that has struggled at best to even try to defend itself against the bullets, artillery, bombs. when it comes to a chemical weapon, there's nothing that they can do. that...
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Dec 13, 2012
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do you believe that president bashar al assad will use chemical warfare against his own people? >> well, his father -- at least there's lots of reporting that his father did in fact use chemical weapons or something very close to it in his suppression of the population. we know that he has made it available, meaning that in some of these chemical weapons there are certain procedures you have to go through to make them a viable weapon. i believe that that's happened. i believe that they are available for use at a very short in the. now, the desperation of dictator facing his ending days of his regime who was, i believe, has made these chemical weapons out of the stockpile available for use. i don't know and we know his father used it. it would be irresponsible, i think, of the international community to lead in and say, we don't think he's going to use them. the modeling on this, wolf, is not good. it could be hundred and thousands dead, millions who would be impacted by it and refugee problems all across the middle east that would be staggering and destabilizing to that whole re
do you believe that president bashar al assad will use chemical warfare against his own people? >> well, his father -- at least there's lots of reporting that his father did in fact use chemical weapons or something very close to it in his suppression of the population. we know that he has made it available, meaning that in some of these chemical weapons there are certain procedures you have to go through to make them a viable weapon. i believe that that's happened. i believe that they...
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Dec 11, 2012
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but they had more mercy than the assad regime. he adds bitterly. now he's using his training and weapons design that he got in libya. this amount combined with another substance is what he uses to make a single grenade. when it comes to making the prop pell lants for a rocket, it's around 20 times this amount and two more substances are included. he now works alone after his assistant was killed while they were experimenting. he's designed crude but effective grenades and his biggest accomplishment, a sleek looking rocket which he claims has a rage of 12 kilometers. much of what he uses comes from unexploded order nants like this and clearly marked on this rocket, made in russia. when he first started, he tells us, he would modify exploded rockets. from here to here, for example, it's our adjustment as are the fins, he says. we would shoot one and it would just go three kilometers or it would turn back around in our direction. now he designs from scratch. mixing a substance he won't reveal but that it's imported from outside with the explosive he e
but they had more mercy than the assad regime. he adds bitterly. now he's using his training and weapons design that he got in libya. this amount combined with another substance is what he uses to make a single grenade. when it comes to making the prop pell lants for a rocket, it's around 20 times this amount and two more substances are included. he now works alone after his assistant was killed while they were experimenting. he's designed crude but effective grenades and his biggest...